Soot-remover.



A. D. MATTHEWS.

800T REMOVER.-

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18. 1917.

1 26x328. Patented May 21,1918. my 0Q l\\\\\\\\\\\ INVENTOR WITNESSES Q Z6 fljafihews, I BY n are learns? cannon.

ARCHIE D. MATTHEWS, OF CALICO ROCK, ARKANSAS.

SOOT-REMOVER.

Application filed July 18, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARCHIE D. MATTHEWS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Calico Rock, in the county of Izard and State of Arkansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Soot-Removers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention comprehends improvements in devices for cleaning soot out of stove pipes.

The primary object of the invention resides in the production of a machine of the above stated character, which shall be of economical construction, strong, durable, effective in operation, and one which will satisfactorily clean stove pipes in a quick and efficient manner, and further wherein means are employed for supporting the pipe section at an appreciable distance from the machine for preventing the soot, when dis charged from the pipe, from coming in contact with the operator.

Furthermore, the invention among other features, contemplates the provision of a flexible spout for establishing a seal-tight connection between the pipe to be cleansed and the fan casing, and further serves to convey the currents of air from said casing into the pipe.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device illustrating the pipe supporting member in folded position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the supporting frame in vertical section and illustrating the pipe supporting means in an unfolded position; and

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the supporting frame.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, in which like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views, 5 denotes a supporting frame of substantially rectangular form embodying spaced parallel vertically disposed side strips 6 connected with one another through the medium of end strips 7 and 8 respectively. The frame 5 is suitably reinforced or strengthened by the employment of braces 9.

Disposed transversely within the frame 5 at a point directly above and in adjacent relation to the braces 9, is journaled in the side strips 6 of the frame a driven shaft 10 having keyed thereon a pinion 11 with which meshes a gear wheel 12 fixed on an intermediate shaft 13. The drive shaft 14 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Serial No. 181,426.

is journaled within the side strips 6 at a point directly above and in parallelism with the intermediate and driven shafts, and movement is imparted to the drive shaft through a suitable handle 15 secured to the extremity 16 of said drive shaft, consequently, by the gear wheel 17 on said drive shaft meshing with a suitable pinion 18 on the intermediate shaft, imparts movement to the driven shaft by the gear wheel 12 meshing with the pinion 11 on said driven shaft. Secured to the exterior face of one of the side strips 6 of said frame is a fan casing 20 in which is mounted a fan carried by the extremity of the driven shaft.

The mechanism having been described for driving the fan, the means serving to establish a seal-tight connection between the stove pipe A and the outlet end 21 of said casing will now be referred to. To this end, fixedly secured to the fan casing 20 in embracing relation with its outlet 21 by suitable fastenings 22, is a flexible spout 28, which preferably is formed of heavy cloth subjected to hot beeswax as a filler to render the same air-tight, and by so doing, will not only establish a seal-tight connection of the spout with the casing, but will convey the currents of air from said casing into the stove pipe A, all of which is clearly obvious tothose skilled in the art to which the invention relates. In the outlet end 24 of this spout is arranged a flexible clamping ring 25, capable of automatically contracting in engagement with the outer circumference of the stove pipe for establishing a frictional connection of the outlet end of the spout with said pipe.

A further but essential characteristic of the present invention, is directed to a novel form of support, indicated generally by the character 26, whereby the pipe being cleansed will at all times be supported in a vertical upright position and at an appreciable distance from the operator for preventing the loosened soot discharged from the stove pipe from soiling the clothing. In carrying out this object, use is made of a prop 27, connected to the front facing of one of the end strips 6 of said frame through the medium of a hinge 28 and connecting the prop with said frame for a vertical swinging movement. The outward swinging movement of the prop is con trolled by the employment of a flexible strap 29 secured at one end to the prop asat 3O and connected at its opposite or inner end to the rear longitudinal edge of one of the side strips 6.- As better shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the use of this strap will not only limit the movement of the prop in an outward and downward direction, but willsupport the latter in a substantially upward inclined position and at the same time per mit of the prop being folded against the frame when the use of the same is not desired. Secured to the prop at a point above the point of connection of the strap therewith, is a retaining member 31 which in this particular instance is shown as constituting a loop of sufficient length to embrace the pipe A and support the latter in substantially perpendicular position, upon the connection of the pipe with said spout.

From the foregoing description, taken in connect-ion with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of construction and the. method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, and while I have described the principles of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the appended claims.

hat is claimedas new, is

1. In combination with a stove pipe, of means for cleansing said pipe, said means comprising a supporting frame, a fan casing secured to said frame, a shaft journaled in said frame, a fan carried by said shaft and confined within casing, means connected with the case for conveying the blasts of air through the stove pipe, and means hingedly connected with said frame for sup porting the stove pipe in spaced relation with said frame.

2. In combination with a stove pipe, of means for cleansing said pipe, said means comprising a supporting frame including spaced side bars, a fan casing having connection with one of said bars, a driven shaft,

a fan on said shaft and housed within said casing, a flexible spout secured to said casing, a clamping member in the discharge end of said spout, and means for supporting the spout beyond the frame, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In combination with a stove pipe, of means for cleansing said pipe, said means comprising a supporting frame including spaced side bars, a fan casing having connection with one of said bars, a driven shaft, a fan on said shaft and housed within said casing, afiexible spout secured to said casing, a clamping member in the discharge end of said spout, and means hingedly'connected with the frame for vertical swinging movement for supporting said spout.

4. In combination with a stove pipe, of means for cleansing said pipe, said means comprising a supporting frame, a fan casing secured to said frame, a shaft journaled in said frame, a fan carried by said shaft and confined within casing, means connected with the casing for conveying the blasts of air through the stove pipe, means hingedly connected with said frame for supporting the stove pipe in spaced relation with said frame, and means for limiting the outward swinging movement of the latter mentioned means.

5. In combination with a stove pipe, of means for cleansing said pipe, said means comprising a supporting frame, a fan casing secured to said frame, a shaft journaled in said frame, a fan carried by said shaft and confined within the casing, means connected with'the casing for conveying the blasts of air through the stove pipe, means hingedly connected .with said frame for supporting the stove pipe in spaced relation with said frame, means for limiting the outward swinging movement of the latter mentioned means, and means connected with the former mentioned means for supporting thereto a stove pipe.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ARCHIE D. MATTHEWS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

